DALLAS — It’s go time!
To put it more fittingly in this case, "Here we go!"
All the pretense is over, and the Cowboys face another game of the year scenario against the Eagles -- in front of a national audience on Sunday Night Football. Thanks to the Eagles loss to the Niners, the Cowboys can draw even, record wise, with Philly (note: tiebreaker implications still favor the Eagles but that’s for another day).
This game comes seemingly at the perfect time for the Cowboys. They’re coming off a mini bye after beating the Seahawks in a prime-time Thursday night affair. Dallas has won four straight and six-of-seven, feasting on lesser competition.
It’s been a well-played warmup for what will be the most pivotal and toughest four-game stretch of the season. And the most important player on the team, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, is playing the best football of his career.
Dak leads the NFL with 26 touchdown passes with just six interceptions. For context, 19 other quarterbacks have been picked off at least seven times this season. He vowed to get his touchdown-to-interception ratio in order after leading the league with 15 interceptions last season and he’s made good on that promise.
I'm also looking for a big bounce-back from the Cowboys defense. They struggled against Geno Smith and the Seahawks, until the game was on the line. Dan Quinn's crew bowed up late with three consecutive fourth-down stops, including the one that closed the game. After allowing Seattle to score on 4-of-5 possessions to start the game, the Seahawks just once in their final five possessions in the Cowboys come-from-behind 41-35 victory.
The Cowboys defense will face a steely-eyed never-say-die performer in Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Houston native will be back in his hometown trying to break Cowboys hearts once again. Keeping him corralled will be key. He is a play-making machine, and especially lethal when he does so outside of the pocket.
We know the Cowboys defense can create pressure - they’ve tied for second in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. And the Eagles have allowed the fifth most pressures in the league. But Micah Parsons and company must create that pressure under control and not allow Hurts to escape, get on the edges and wreak havoc.
One other note - kudos to Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. He underwent appendix surgery Wednesday afternoon. But he says he will make it to the sidelines Sunday to create as normal a gameday environment, as possible. No greater way to get cred from your players than to play through pain, so to speak.
X's and Joes
This game will feature a battle two NFL MVP betting favorites. I hate to even bring that up because there’s still so much football to play this season. Five weeks can feel like an eternity in the NFL, but right now most sports books have Prescott and Hurts in the top two or three spots in terms of odds for winning the league MVP hardware.
Prescott has a prime-time opportunity for a resume’ booster against a porous Eagles secondary that has surrendered 300-plus yard passing performances at an alarming rate recently. Prescott, San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, and Washington’s Sam Howell have all thrown for more than 300 yards in the last five games the Eagles have played.
Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb figures to make a big impact again. He torched the Eagles for 191 on 112 catches in the Cowboys 28-23 loss a month ago.
I’ve noticed a subtle shift in the way the Cowboys do business. After Lamb held a meeting with Prescott and head coach McCarthy asking for the ball more, the Cowboys have obliged, and it’s jump-started the offense. Prescott doesn’t allow opposing defenses to take away Lamb as easily. Not only will he throw into traffic to Lamb, but the Cowboys have also done a fantastic job of scheming open space for Lamb who leads the NFC with 90 receptions so far this season.
He's a big reason the Cowboys are second-best in the league on third downs (48.5%). Prescott leads all NFL passers on third down completion percentage (72.8%) and passer rating (117.2). Meanwhile the Eagles are last in the league in third down defense.
One other "Joe" to cover - the Eagles won the Shaq Leonard sweepstakes. The 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year and former Colts linebacker should be ready to suit up Sunday.
I read this move from Leonard as the Eagles offering a chance for him to have a more immediate impact. He certainly could have provided depth for the Cowboys, but the Eagles have a more pressing need with the injuries that have hit their linebacker room. Leonard is expected to play next to Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham who should be back from a hamstring injury. Leonard could play a significant role.
Random Stat
Sunday night marks the 130th meeting between the Cowboys and Eagles. Fans who see it in person will be paying an absolute premium - we’re talking about the premium of premiums.
According to reseller TickPick, Sunday’s game is the most expensive Cowboys regular season game on record. The average ticket price is more than $440! The company says the previous record was for a game against the Packers in 2019, which had an average price of $356. Green Bay won that game 34-24.
Bandwagon Meter
45% - The bandwagon is still holding steady but with a significant change. There are plenty of people milling about smartly ready to jump on. A win against the Eagles before a national audience will change the math substantially. Stay tuned!
Prediction time: Joestradamus speaks
The Cowboys are a 3-point favorite at home against the Eagles. Dallas looking to win its 15th straight home game.
They will get it done behind another exceptional performance from Prescott. The Cowboys were inches away from beating the Eagles in Philly a month ago and they get it right this time, winning it 34-30.